Verse 17
The ultimate cause of this action is God’s sovereign purpose. God has used the forces of evil for His own purposes before (cf. Revelation 16:13-14; Revelation 16:16; Judges 7:22; 1 Samuel 14:20; 2 Chronicles 20:23; Jeremiah 25:9-11; Ezekiel 38:21; Haggai 2:22; Zechariah 14:13). Nevertheless the sinner is always responsible for his or her actions (Ezekiel 18).
"This verse denies the existence of any ultimate dualism in the world. In the final analysis the powers of evil serve the purposes of God." [Note: Mounce, pp. 319-20.]
The "common purpose" in view in this verse is world domination (Revelation 17:13). The allied kings will submit to the beast’s leadership because this will help them achieve their goal of attaining universal power and resisting God. This situation will continue until the end of the age, until all God’s words about rebellion against Him in the Tribulation have come to fulfillment (cf. Revelation 10:7).
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